Browns 31, Dolphins 6: Cleveland snaps 3-game skid after Kevin Stefanski gets 'intense'; Myles Garrett says winning must become obsession

CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit stood on the sideline Sunday afternoon, relaxed and cheering on their defensive teammates. The heavy lifting had been done. The victory was secured — and a comfortable one at that.The Browns don't get many wins like this. After a three-game losing streak and with the frustration boiling over, it couldn't have come at a better time.Browns 31, Dolphins 6."One win is one thing, but we've got to turn this into a habit, an addiction," said Garrett, the four-time All-Pro who snapped a three-game sack drought. "It's got to be an obsession to win and win like this. We got to keep on chasing that feeling."Browns DE Myles Garrett said one win isn't enough. Need to make winning an obsession. pic.twitter.com/GyPmDvbdAq— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) October 19, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsOn a wet and windy day at Huntington Bank Field, the Browns (2-5) set a season high in points. They hadn't scored more than 17 in a game since a Monday night loss in Denver on Dec. 2. Rookie Quinshon Judkins had 18 points alone with three rushing touchdowns.The criticism of coach Kevin Stefanski reached an all-time high after the 23-9 loss in Pittsburgh last week. The Browns dropped to last in the league in scoring (13.7 points a game), and Stefanski was ripped for abandoning the run too early.He committed to the ground game Sunday.Commentary: Browns have a pulse, offense comes to life in rout of MiamiThe Browns used extra offensive linemen for much of the day, running 33 times and throwing 18 with rookie Dillon Gabriel, who got his first NFL victory. The rain and wind, and Miami's last-ranked run defense, played significant roles in the decision. So did Judkins' talent.The second-round pick out of Ohio State continues to impress. He scored from 46, 3 and 2 yards. After the long one showed off his speed, the short ones were out of the wildcat as he took direct snaps with Gabriel on the sideline. Stefanski, coordinator Tommy Rees and line coach Mike Bloomgren added the formation to the game plan Thursday night due to the forecast.Quinshon Judkins lifts offense with 3 TDs, work in the wildcatJudkins finished with 25 rushes for 84 yards and a 3.4 average. He's the first Browns running back with three touchdowns in a game since Travis Prentice in 2000."He runs hard. He's dynamic," Garrett said. "Spinning off that tackle that most guys would've went down clean on, that just shows how special he is as a runner."Stefanski is known for keeping an even keel and stayed that way with reporters last week. He took a different tone with the players."We had a little intensity on Monday," said left guard Joel Bitonio, who made his 168th start, passing Hall of Famer Joe Thomas for most since the team returned in 1999. "I think it was just frustration boiling over, but he was intense. Laid out expectations, especially on offense."I've never lost faith in him. When things get tough, he makes a stand and he puts us in the best position possible. It was a little intense, but I think he answered the bell and the team answered the bell for him."Safeties first: Grant Delpit, Rayshawn Jenkins team up for takeaways in win over DolphinsBitonio said he had seen this side of Stefanski a few times in six years."But this one was pretty good. It was good stuff," he said. "Sometimes you got to get some stuff out of your players."Just in his own way. He came out and he laid down the expectations, and that was something we needed."Delpit said during the week he had forgotten how winning felt. He'll savor this one after forcing a fumble, sacking Tua Tagovailoa, making a fourth-down tackle short of a first down and forcing Tagovailoa into an interception with a well-timed blitz."I remember now. Feels good," Delpit said. "A huge win, honestly. Just to get one and now to multiply those, we can't keep pinballing around in the season, going up and down. It's time to skyrocket this thing and keep this momentum going."Gabriel's first win came in his third NFL start. The third-round pick has opened his career with 107 passes without an interception. He was 13-for-18 for 116 yards, two sacks and an 89.1 passer rating. He rushed four times for 12 yards."Try not to make it about myself, it's just about the team," he said. "Winning is fun."When asked about his first win, Browns QB Dillon Gabriel turns conversation to team. pic.twitter.com/Wynz4t59lk— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) October 19, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIn a matchup of 1-5 teams, the Browns were clearly superior. The Browns, past the most difficult part of the schedule, are 2-5 and 2½ games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North. They travel to New England next week before the bye."Be a spark as much as we want it to," Garrett said. "Hopefully we've gotten so tired of the losses and tired of the pain that comes with them that we're ready to inflict it on somebody else. You've got to learn to use that pain, use that drive. It can't just become acceptable to have those feelings. Right now, it was a good response that we have, but it's got to continue."The defense outscored the Dolphins, as new cornerback Tyson Campbell had a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter and Andre Szmyt added the extra point. Tagovailoa's throw to running back De'Von Achane was high, went off his hands and was grabbed by Campbell, who was acquired in a trade with the Jaguars on Oct. 8. He ran down the right sideline toward the Dawg Pound.Browns coach Kevin Stefanski shouts out the fans who showed up in the messy conditions. pic.twitter.com/I6DNErzfJz— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) October 19, 2025https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe Browns intercepted Tagovailoa three times and recovered a fumble on a kickoff. Tagovailoa also fumbled three times — all were recovered by the Dolphins — and went 12-for-23 for 100 yards and a 24.1 passer rating.Garrett got his wish by moving around the defense in search of favorable matchups. He lined up at both end spots, at tackle and off the line and had a sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits before turning into a cheerleader.The defense was smothering — the Dolphins went 1-for-13 on third down — and got a big day from its three safeties.Rayshawn Jenkins had an interception and fumble recovery and had tight coverage of Achane on Campbell's pick-six. Jenkins' interception, which was returned to the 2 to set up Judkins' third touchdown, came when Delpit blitzed Tagovailoa, who was in the end zone.Ronnie Hickman ended Tagovailoa's day with an interception. Rookie Quinn Ewers finished the game for the Dolphins.The Browns led 17-6 at halftime as Miami was penalized seven times for 69 yards, including several critical ones on defense that contributed to Cleveland points. Campbell started the second half with the pick-six and the Browns were never threatened."It's nice. We haven't had that all year and you don't want to make it close if you don't have to," Garrett said. "So with it all coming together in that fashion, that's exactly what we want and we got to continue to strive for that."He saw the win as the first step toward saving the season."We're only as strong as our weakest link and we got to make everyone feel like we can bounce back from this and we can still achieve the things we want to," he said. "Because we dug ourselves a little hole, but we can get ourselves out of it. We've got to do it together."The post Browns 31, Dolphins 6: Cleveland snaps 3-game skid after Kevin Stefanski gets 'intense'; Myles Garrett says winning must become obsession first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.